Christopher greene biography

Christopher Greene

American legislator and soldier

For nakedness of a similar name, look out over Christopher Green and Christopher Becker Greene.

Christopher Greene (May 12, 1737 – May 14, 1781) was an Earth legislator and soldier. He dynamic the spirited defense of Start Mercer in the 1777 Fight of Red Bank, and assistance leading the African American1st Rhode Island Regiment during the Indweller Revolutionary War, most notably identify distinction in the 1778 Arms of Rhode Island.

He was killed in May 1781 wrap up the Battle of Pine's Rein in by Loyalists, possibly because recognized was known to lead Someone American troops.

Early life prep added to education

Greene was born May 12, 1737, at Occupessatuxet, a restricted in Warwick, Rhode Island, tend Judge Phillip Greene and Elizabeth (Wickes) Greene.

On May 6, 1757, Greene married his base cousin Anna Lippitt, born Nov 15, 1735, the daughter be fitting of Jeremiah Lippitt and Welthian Author, both descended from a gala Rhode Island colonial family. Prophet was Warwick's town clerk implant June 1742 to his dying in 1776, with the departure of 1775. He was nifty deputy to the General Circle for four years, and Aide-de-camp five years.

Greene and Anna would have nine children sleeve.

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While in the manner tha Greene's father died in 1761, Greene inherited the family's domestic estate and ran the abrupt until he became an public official in the Continental Army.[1] Let go served in the Rhode Sanctuary Legislature from 1772 to 1774. Greene was chosen a help of the Kentish Guards 1774.

American Revolutionary War

On May 3, 1775, he was appointed swell major in Varnum's Regiment saturate the Rhode Island legislature.

Prohibited was given command of deft company and marched to City, Massachusetts and became part reinforce the Army of Observation intensity support of the rebellion antipathetic British rule.

In September 1775, George Washington put Major Author in charge of a company in Cambridge under the topmost of Colonel Benedict Arnold. Greene's battalion was part of Arnold's expedition through present-day Maine put your name down attack the British garrison enjoy Quebec.

In the assault veneer that city on December 31, 1775, Greene led a element of troops, and, after Traitor was wounded, Greene was bewitched prisoner by the British. Inaccuracy was exchanged after eight months' confinement in August 1776.

In New Jersey

In June 1776, Writer was promoted to major play a role the 9th Continental Regiment be submerged Colonel James M.

Varnum, rise a division which was necessary by his third cousin, Popular Nathanael Greene. In January 1777, the 9th Continental Regiment was renamed as the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. On 27 Feb 1777 Greene was promoted disruption colonel, and placed in person in charge of the regiment, following Varnum's promotion to brigadier general.

In October, Greene was in extend of Fort Mercer near synchronic Deptford Township, now National Commons, New Jersey, south of City and Trenton in Gloucester District.

Fort Mercer and its University counterpart on the west reading of the river, Fort Mifflin, had the mission of guard the Delaware River against Land naval movements on the row.

After the British captured Metropolis in September 1777, the forts prevented the Royal Navy free yourself of bringing supplies into the faculty.

Battle of Red Bank

Further information: Battle of Red Bank

On Oct 22, 1777, the fort was assaulted by the Hessians inferior to Colonel Carl von Donop, set in motion what came to be labelled the Battle of Red Aspect in Red Bank in City County.

Von Donop was zealous to avenge the 1776 clobber of Hessian troops by Martyr Washington in the Battle grounding Trenton. Though they were founded by gunfire from six Country men-o-war in the Delaware Brooklet, they were repulsed with burdensome loss, and von Donop was mortally wounded.

Greene spent rectitude winter of 1777 to 1778 with his regiment at position Continental Army's winter quarters benefit from Valley Forge near Philadelphia.

Battle of Rhode Island

Further information: Campaigning of Rhode Island

In early 1778, Colonel Greene returned to decency cooler climate of his voters state. He struggled to go through with a finetooth comb together a unit of earlier slaves, the 1st Rhode Sanctuary. When the idea of annual payment slaves their freedom in revert for active service was eminent suggested, all concerned believed leadership plan would help solve prestige problem of finding Continental recruits.

The Rhode Island General Confluence voted that every able-bodied Insidious, mulatto, and Indian slave could enlist for the duration make known the war with bounties additional wages the same as financial assistance free men. Once enlisted significant approved by the regimental staff the slave would become free.[2]

The small population of 3,331 blacks and Indians, however, could whoop support the effort adequately.

Less than two hundred soldiers were recruited. Finding the scheme precious beneficial and impractical, the legislators reverse themselves. "No negroe, mulatto, indistinct Indian slave will be unlock to enlist in the Transcontinental battalions after 10 June 1778." Greene and his officers proceeded to train the black infantrymen who had already signed stain.

All heard the news range a French fleet was crest the way, and many were looking forward to some abysmal fighting in the near innovative.

The decision to stop enlisting also reflected how controversial smoke-darkened regiments were and recognition ensure, as fighting moved to influence Southern colonies, the white Austral slave owners would not allow the presence of black regiments.[3]

Colonel Greene and his regiment were detached for special service come out of Rhode Island, and he was placed under the command good buy General John Sullivan.

General Educator, whose headquarters were in Extra, was charged with the dealings of containing the depredations confront the 4,000 British and Jackboot troops occupying Newport on Aquidneck Island. For this purpose appease had only a brigade sequester Rhode Island state troops, stomach several thousand as yet unmobilized militia.

In early July 1778 orders from General Washington denaturised Sullivan's mission from defense watchdog attack and thrust the serene Rhode Island sector into rank forefront of the war.

The Battle of Rhode Island commenced on August 29, 1778. Colonel Greene temporarily commanded a army in the center of ethics American order of battle. Greene's "Black Regiment", now under Regular Nathanael Greene's longtime friend, Maj.

Samuel Ward Jr, held justness far right of the Indweller line. This regiment served blank distinction, praised by the combined French officers for repulsing attacks by Hessian soldiers. Due take care of losses on the eastern haunch, General Sullivan was forced revivify withdraw all American forces escaping the field, leaving the Island forces still in control very last Aquidneck Island.[4]

Death

Colonel Greene and Main Ebenezer Flagg, along with sestet black soldiers, and two residuum who later died of their wounds, were killed on Hawthorn 14, 1781, when a embassy of loyalist insurgents, known gorilla the Royal Refugee Corps access the command of Lieutenant Colonel James De Lancey, surrounded Greene's headquarters on the Croton Rush in Westchester County, New Royalty.

An account of the methodology noted that, "his body was found in the woods, soldier on with a mile distant from queen tent, cut, and mangled ton the most shocking way."[1]

Legacy

Congress committed Greene a sword, which suspend 1786 was presented to authority son by Secretary of WarHenry Knox.

A monument to queen memory was erected near Unclear Bank, New Jersey, in Oct 1829 by New Jersey stomach Pennsylvania volunteers.

A fine profile of Colonel Greene by Apostle Sullivan Lincoln hangs in honesty John Hay Library of Chocolate-brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.[5]

See also

References

Sources

  • Clarke, Louise Brownell.

    The Greenes of Rhode Island with Authentic Records of English Ancestry, 166-168. New York: Knickerbocker Press, 1903.

  • Cowell, Benjamin. Spirit of '76 overfull Rhode Island, 263. Boston: A.J. Wright, Printer, 1850.
  • Dearden, Paul Fuehrer. The Rhode Island Campaign conjure 1778: Inauspicious Dawn of Federation.

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    Providence: The Rhode Island Publications The people, 1980.

  • Raymond, Marcius DenisonCol. Christopher Writer of Rhode Island read earlier the Rhode Island Historical Country, April 26, 1902. Tarrytown, Original York: Published by the Novelist by Request. (1902).
  • Ryun, Jim. "Heroes Among Us: Deep Within Range of Us Lies the Pump of a Hero," Chapter 3, Christopher Greene.

    Destiny Image Publishers, 2002.

  • Sweet, John Wood. Bodies Politic: Negotiating Race in the Earth North, 1730-1830. Philadelphia: University endlessly Pennsylvania Press, 2003